Google Docs

This section is dedicated to Google Docs, and help with doing anything on it. If you would like us to write a guide on something we haven't already written one on, please request it in the comments section below.

All about comments

Creating and Sharing a Doc

Summary of a Google Doc (skip this part if you just want to make one):
Google Docs is short for Google Documents. It is a document creation program similar to Microsoft Office Suite, except it's on the Internet. It does not have quite as many features as Microsoft Office does, but it does have some that Office doesn't. Most notable is its sharing function. One document can be shared with anybody who has a Google Account (meaning everybody at Meadowbrook and everyone else with Gmail). Also, it can be shared to the web so anybody can see it. You can selectively choose who can make changes to it and who can just view the document. The best part is that up to 50 people can edit it at once, making it a great platform for class projects.

Creating a Doc

First, go to the website, at docs.google.com.
If you are already signed in to Gmail, you should log in automatically.
Otherwise, enter your e-mail address and your Gmail password. Click "Log In".
If you have never used Google Docs, your document list may be empty.
To make a new document, click "CREATE" on the left.

A drop-down menu will appear.

Document: like Word or Pages
Presentation: like PowerPoint or Keynote
Spreadsheet: like Excel or Numbers
Form: a questionnaire you can send out (answers come back in a spreadsheet)
Drawing: like a one-page PowerPoint or Adobe Illustrator or Paint
Collection: a folder for documents

Most of the time, you will use a "Document", so we'll use that as an example.

Create a document and you should see something like this:

Renaming a Doc

First of all, you probably want to name your document. A whole lot of "Untitled document"s may get annoying.
Click the name and a box should appear in the center of the screen.

Enter whatever you want to name the document in the box and then click "OK".
Great! We have a document! It has a name! But the problem is, it's lonely.

Sharing a Doc

Right now, only you can edit it, so it is just your document. Let's share the document.
Click the Share button, which will probably have a lock on it right now.
(The lock means only you can edit it).

You will get a pop-up window (it may take a few seconds sometimes).
The "Who has access" part indicates who can view the document.
It can be configured so that anyone on the web, just people at Meadowbrook, or just the people you add can view it.
To change it, click the "Change..." link.

If you keep it private, you can enter the e-mail addresses of people you want to be able to view or edit the document in the input box.

The group of people can either edit or just view the document depending on whether it's set to "Can edit" or "Can view".
You can also choose whether or not to send the people an e-mail.
If anyone isn't on Gmail, they can edit only by going to the document website directly.
If you start typing the address of anyone at Meadowbrook, suggestions will show up.
Click "Share" and then add any more groups of people you want. Close out of the popup to get back to the document.